Happy Tails and Tales Blog: Blood Curse Review and Giveaway and a little freebie!

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Blood Curse Review and Giveaway and a little freebie!

We’re happy to announce a tour for the historical paranormal romance Blood Curse by Kat Flannery! The tour is running from November 3rdth to November 21st, 2014. There will be reviews, interviews, guest posts and excerpts + an International giveaway that will run on our site and on each stop.

Blood Curse

(Branded Trilogy #2)

“Upon mine death for the blood ye have shed, Every daughter born to ye shall die before it draws breath, to which ye will know pain and worse, I cast unto ye mine blood curse.” ~ Vadoma

Four years after the Blood Curse, Pril of the Peddlers vows to protect her child against the evil men who hunt her. With her clan unaware of the branded girl among them, Pril has to keep the identity of her daughter a secret. When her child is kidnapped, she is forced to ask Merchant runner, Kade Walker, for his help.

Kade Walker needs to find the gypsy child. Blackmailed and pushed beyond his own moral code, he is determined to do whatever it takes. When he comes across the Peddler clan, he is sure the girl is there, however all hope is lost when the gypsies capture him. Time is running out—until Pril makes him an offer he cannot refuse.

Amidst greed, lust, revenge and love, Pril will need to trust Kade. But as the evil nears and doubt creeps in, will she discover that the enemy has been standing next to her all along?

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Grab your copy of Blood Curse for FREE on Amazon!!
*Offer valid from November 3rd to November 6th, 2014*

Excerpt

“Upon mine death for the blood ye have shed, every daughter born to ye shall die before it draws breath, to which ye will know pain and worse, I cast unto ye mine blood curse.” ~ Vadoma

PROLOGUE

The moon hurled shades of green and grey across the starless black sky. Waves rolled up

onto the docks rocking the boats tied there. The water pooled around his booted feet as he walked

briskly along the wooden boards. The air reeked of fish and sea, and he tucked his chin into the

raggedy coat inhaling the stale garment. One hand in the pocket fingered a piece of rope while the

other pulled open the door to The Cat House, a brothel on the docks.

Men of all kinds sat at the tables. Smoke, laughter and mugs clinked together. He ignored

them all to take a seat at the table in the corner.

“Can you guarantee this to be done?”

“Of course.”

“You must kill him and bring the child to me.”

“Consider it done.”

He shook his head. “You must make sure he no longer breathes.”

“Indeed.”

“Do not be fooled. He is tough and knows his way around a sword.”

“I am not concerned.”

He nodded and slid a brown package tied with twine across the table to the broad-shouldered

man on the other side.

Long slender fingers reached out and picked up the package.

“A name?”

“Kade Walker.”

CHAPTER ONE

Appalachian Mountains, Virginia 1723

Pril Peddler lifted the green shawl from her trunk and wrapped it around her bare arms. The

change in seasons brought a damp chill to the morning air, and the heavy woolen wrap kept her warm. She peeked at the small face huddled under the blankets at the back of the wagon. The

charm above the child swayed on the string Pril had hung it from. A dull ache hummed in her

chest when she thought of the horrific loss her clan had been dealt.

The evil was near, and she’d need to work another spell to keep them safe. Late for counsel

with her brother, Galius, she kissed the soft cheek of her daughter before heading to the door.

Hand up, she shaded her eyes from the bright sun as she stepped from the back of the vardo.

She pulled the heavy burlap curtain down to close the opening and walked toward Galius.

“Your steps are light this morning, Sister. One would think you did not want to be heard,”

Galius said as he stirred the coffee beans inside the metal pot.

Tension twisted her gut. He was right; she did not want this counsel. She did not know what

to say. She let the flicker of merriment in her brother’s eyes wash over her relaxing the muscles in

her shoulders.

“My step is the same.” She poked him with her finger trying to ease her own nerves and his

as well.

His lips lifted as if to smile, and she held her breath. It’d been weeks since he smiled. Pril’s

heart ached, and her lips trembled.

He held up the bubbling pot. “Would you like a cup?”

She inhaled the aroma of strong coffee beans and nodded taking a seat on a wooden stump

by the fire.

He handed her a cup and sat down across from her.

The wood crackled, and sparks jumped from the heat onto the ground in front of her. She

tipped her chin concentrating on what to say next. Ever since the murder of her niece, she’d not

been able to hold a conversation with either of her brothers without offering apologies. This

morning was no different. She could not look Galius in the eyes and see the anguish and sorrow

within them.

The Monroes had come again.

They’d never be safe.

She blinked away the tears hovering against her thick lashes. Tsura was asleep in her wagon,

while another was lost to them forever. The door of her brother’s wagon creaked open and

Milosh’s wife, Magda, stepped out. Black circles settled around her sunken eyes, and Pril felt the

stab in her chest once more. Long brown hair fell untied down the woman’s back. The black

clothes she’d put on weeks ago hung on her body unchanged and wrinkled from sleep. Milosh

came from behind their wagon, a jar of honey in his hand. Pril stood when Galius’ large hand

grabbed her wrist.

“They are not wanting to see you today, Sister.”

She heard the regret in his voice, swallowed past the guilt in her own throat and nodded.

Milosh hadn’t spoken a single word to her since the death of his child. He blamed her, and it was

clear so did Magda.

“I…I’m so sorry, Galius.”

He didn’t reply right away, and without seeing it, she knew he had wiped the tears from his

eyes. “Alexandra’s death is not your fault.”

The words were spoken because they needed to be. Gypsies stayed together no matter what.

They were family. There was no truth to his words, and Pril knew it.

“Are you going after them?” she asked.

“I hold no power, no spells flow from my lips. I am strong, yes, but they are stronger.” He

stared at her, his eyes pleading. “We need the pendant.”

Guilt thickened her tongue; the gritty residue clung to her lips and tasted bitter.

The talisman had been in their family for generations, blessed by each new Chuvani.

Vadoma had promised her the pendant before she died, but Pril never saw it, and there had been

no time to search for the jewel when they fled.

“Without the pendant we cannot break the curse. We cannot protect our people.”She knew this. They all knew this, but no one had a clue as to where the talisman was. She’d

tried to call an image forward, to make a finding spell, but nothing worked.

“We have lost one of our own. Our clan is frightened. They have lost faith. We cannot fight

the Monroes. We have neither the numbers nor the skill.” He took a long drink of his coffee.

“And neither do you.”

She glanced at him.

“I know you, Sister. You’re planning to take Tsura.”

Pril sighed. She did not know what else to do. The Monroes were coming for her child.

Alexandra had died because of that. Milosh and Magda hated her.

“Running is not going to change anything.”

“It will save lives. It will…help Milosh and Magda to heal.”

“No, it will not. Running will get you and Tsura killed and that is all.”

“How can you look at me when you know what I’ve brought to our family, when you know

that this is all because of me?”

Galius blew out a long breath that moved his thick beard from his lips. She watched through

tear filled eyes as his bottom lip quivered.

“Vadoma put this burden on you. For that, we do not judge.”

Their sister had died a vile death. She’d betrayed their clan and had hung while being

burned. Pril ached for her sister’s guidance and counsel. She yearned to know that what she was

doing was right.

_________________________

About Lakota Honor (Book #1)

Fate has brought them together, but will a promise tear them apart?

In the small town of Willow Creek, Colorado, Nora Rushton spends most of her days locked up in her home with a father who resents her and fighting off unwanted marriage proposals from the wealthy Elwood Calhoun. Marked as a witch, Nora must hide her healing powers from those who wish to destroy all the witkowin—crazy women. What she doesn’t know is that a bounty hunter is hot on her trail.

Lakota native Otakatay has an obligation to fulfill. He has been hired to kill the witkowin. In a time when race and difference are a threat and innocence holds no ground, courage, love and honor will bring Nora and Otakatay together as they fight for their freedom. Will the desire to fulfill his promise drive Otakatay to kill Nora? Or will the kindness he sees in her blue eyes push him to be the man he once was?

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My Review of Blood Curse

So, you guys know I am bad for always picking up a book in a series that isn't the first book, and I did it again here. But I'm not feeling too lost or confused to I'm gunna say i think it's ok to read it without the first, though who knows, I could be missing everything LOL. Anyways, This is Pril and Kade's stories. Pril is a gypsy has a little bit of magical powers, she's trying to keep her niece safe, since her sister was murdered. Tsura, Pril's niece is quite powerful so it's a little complicated for Pril to teach her. Kade is hunting them, though he doesn't know everything and the reasons and exactly what's going on. And since he's looking for a daughter, Pril keeping Tsura dressed as a boy is a little confusing for Kade. Except someone kidnapped Tsura and now, Kade and Pril must work together to find her.

I know I should have read book one, but I'll just have to go back later. But the story is still pretty good. We have both POVs between Kade and Pril, and I am liking both of them. But I did think I was missing a little, like time and place typed things. BUT the explanations of folklore and culture was great, so it makes up for the little I didn't know. I also like that this can be interpreted in a very real way. Parents always want their children to have better, be better, but how do you teach something you can't do or understand. It's pretty cool if you ask me. And the curse Pril's sister caused, with the revenge to fix it made for an excellent plot while the romance is a side dish it's still a great addition to the story.

The writing is well done, and yes I will be getting book one while I wait on book three. It's a sweet story with a fast paced plot. I looked forward to more. 4.5 PAWS!! :)

About the Author

Kat Flannery

Kat Flannery’s love of history shows in her novels. She is an avid reader of historical, suspense, paranormal, and romance. When not researching for her next book, Kat can be found running her three sons to hockey and lacrosse. She has her Certificate in Freelance and Business Writing. A member of many writing groups, Kat enjoys promoting other authors on her blog. She’s been published in numerous periodicals. Her debut novel CHASING CLOVERS has been on Amazon’s Bestsellers list many times and was #62 over all their titles. LAKOTA HONOR and HAZARDOUS UNIONS are Kat’s other two books and both have made bestseller lists. Kat is currently hard at work on her next book.